Trump Dismisses "President Musk" Jibes, as Detractors Suggest Elon Musk Wields Influence Over Washington Following Government Shutdown Standoff
Headline
Trump Dismisses "President Musk" Jibes, as Detractors Suggest Elon Musk Wields Influence Over Washington Following Government Shutdown Standoff
President-elect Donald Trump dispelled rumors on Sunday that tech mogul Elon Musk wields control over the Republican Party, following Musk's intervention to sideline a government spending bill last week. This led to a wave of jibes from Democrats and Trump's critics who referred to Musk as "President Musk."
Facts
During a speech at the Turning Point Action conference, Trump laughed off the criticism, stating "he's not going to be president—that I can tell you," while highlighting his own presidency's security as Musk is not eligible due to his South African birthplace.
In a series of over 100 posts on his X platform two days prior to the government shutdown, Musk criticized a 1,500-page spending bill endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson as overly lengthy and expensive. Trump also echoed Musk's sentiments, effectively scuppering the bill's passage to the House floor.
The ensuing turmoil sparked speculations of Musk's unofficial sway over the Republican Party. Fox News' Peter Doocy termed Musk as "the center of the universe on Capitol Hill," while Sean Hannity remarked Musk as the "new sheriff in town," while Democrats humorously cited Musk as the de facto president.
Musk, a significant contributor to the 2024 election, has frequently appeared with Trump since the elections, enjoying meals with high-profile figures at Mar-a-Lago and watching a UFC event alongside the president-elect.
In response, Trump's team issued a statement via Karoline Leavitt, asserting that "President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Period," while Musk discredited the claims on X, stating "I’m not the author of this proposal," acknowledging Trump 's, Johnson's, and Vice President-elect JD Vance's contributions to the reworked proposal.
Our Estimations
Our calculated estimate for Musk's net worth is $430.9 billion, making him the wealthiest individual in the world. He surpasses Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's net worth of $235.8 billion to claim the title.
Background Information
Musk and Trump have forged a close relationship since Trump's campaign and Musk's extensive election funding of over $250 million. Trump also appointed Musk, along with Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead a Department of Government Efficiency aimed at reducing government waste.
Misc Information
Musk disseminated multiple inaccuracies about the spending bill as he voiced his objections. He alleged that the plan included a 40% wage hike for lawmakers, significantly higher than the 3.8% increase it actually proposed. Musk also falsely claimed that the bill included funding for a new stadium for the Washington Commanders NFL team, a reference to a provision that transferred the RFK Stadium site from the federal government to the District of Columbia, paving the way for potential stadium construction that could see the team return to DC from its suburban Maryland location.
Shocking Fact
The legislation does not incorporate the debt limit increase that Trump initially demanded but rather suspends the debt ceiling for two years while ensuring the government operates until March 14.
Additional Reading
Biden Signs Funding Bill—Avoiding Government Shutdown (Our Website)
Musk Declares Congressional Bill to Avert Government Shutdown 'Unacceptable' (Our Website)
Trump Opposes Johnson's Government Funding Bill—Urges Republicans to 'Get Smart and Tough' (Our Website)
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Elon Musk and Mike Johnson both voiced opposition to a government spending bill last week, with Musk criticizing Johnson's 1,500-page proposal on his X platform. This led to speculations about Musk's influence over the Republican Party, with Fox News' Peter Doocy calling him "the center of the universe on Capitol Hill."
Contrary to these rumors, Donald Trump's team issued a statement clarifying that Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, while Musk himself denied any control, stating on X, "I’m not the author of this proposal."